A new study for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University has ranked Louisiana 33rd among the U.S. states and Puerto Rico for its fiscal health.
It found that the Bayou State has between 1.99 and 3.26 times the cash needed to cover short-term liabilities.
Among the other findings:
— Revenues cover 96 percent of expenses in Louisiana, producing a deficit of $216 per capita.
— On a long-run basis, net assets are 4 percent of total assets, and total liabilities are 44 percent of total assets.
— Total debt is $12.31 billion.
— Unfunded pension liabilities are $73.26 billion on a guaranteed-to-be-paid basis, and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) add $5.48 billion to unfunded liabilities. Together these three liabilities are equal to 46 percent of total state personal income.